2005 Awardee: Brian McGinley

YEAR OF AWARD: 2005
AGE AT AWARD: 20
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.thistlebrass.com
 
 

Biography

When he started playing trumpet at the age of 10, Brian aspired to become a top orchestral player. Even as an undergraduate, his considerable talents were recognised by many of the major orchestras, both within and outside Scotland, for whom he has played regularly.

Brian plays regularly with the BBC Scottish Symphony, the Royal Scottish National, Scottish Ballet, Scottish Opera, Ulster and RTE Concert Orchestras.  He is former principal trumpet with both Camerata Scotland and the National Musicians Symphony Orchestra, London and recently performed as guest principal trumpet with the Orchestra Utopica in Lisbon, Portugal.

Brian, from Yoker, is a keen chamber musician and has performed with the Hebrides Ensemble, the brass ensembles of the BBC SSO and Scottish Opera as well as with his award-winning brass quintet, Thistle Brass, with whom he has performed in venues as far apart as the Great Wall of China to the G8 Summit in Gleneagles.  For further information see www.thistlebrass.com.

In addition to performing solo recitals on modern instruments, Brian has a keen interest in early music and recently performed solo trumpet inBach’s B Minor Mass on baroque trumpet with the Dunedin Consort.

Currently studying for a Masters at RSAMD, Brian has a strong interest in modern music and premiered a new piece for solo trumpet by James MacMillan in 2005, to great acclaim. It is considered that, as his career progresses, he will become a vehicle for and a great exponent of the best of contemporary Scottish music. He is a recipient of the British Reserve Prize for Early Music, the Peter Morrison Prize for Brass and was recently awarded the prestigious Governors Recital Prize for Brass at the RSAMD.  He has received awards from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust and the Musician’s Benevolent Fund Education Awards.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award enabled Brian to buy a pair of rotary trumpets, as well as support a series of lessons with some of the top European trumpeters of his choice.

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2005 Awardee: Benjamin Kracun

I am sincerely honoured to have been awarded the Dewar Arts Award. Without the Award I would never have been able to follow my passion for Cinematography.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2005
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.benjaminkracun.com
EMAIL:ben@benjaminkracun.com
 

Biography

Benjamin has long been interested in story telling, first through photography and later film. Benjamin grew up in rural Dumfriesshire as a first generation Scot of his Croatian father, who was made stateless after the break-up of Yugoslavia, and his German mother.

A graduate of Napier University, Benjamin’s graduation film was nominated for best British short at the 2004 Edinburgh International Film Festival. Subsequently he worked as Director of Photography on a Cineworks commission, ‘Suburban Home’, directed by a fellow Napier graduate, which was considered to be one of the year’s most accomplished productions. He is considered to be one of the brightest and most talented Scottish film-makers of his year.

Benjamin was later awarded a place on the cinematography course at the highly-regarded National Film and TV School in Beaconsfield, where he hopes to develop both his technical skills and creative practice.

For Those in Peril

Review in Variety Magazine
Feature in The Independent
Film details on IMDB

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will fund Benjamin through his two-year course on cinematography.

Since the Award

Benjamin graduated a Master of Arts in Cinematography with a Commendation. Two of his films were premiered at the 2008 Edinburgh International Film Festival, his graduation fiction film ‘One in Four’ and a documentary. While still at NFTS, Benjamin won first prize for a Kodak Student commercial. After graduation, Benjamin went straight into filming with Henry Coombes.

Benjamin Kracun has become an award winning Scottish Director of Photography, he is a visionary known for his powerful and emphatic aesthetics. His 2013 feature ‘For Those In Peril’ (directed by fellow Awardee Paul Wright) premiered at Cannes International Film Festival and won Best Debut at the BIFAs along with two BAFTA Scotland awards including Best Film. His 2012 feature film ‘The Comedian’ was nominated for the Sutherland Award for Best First Feature at The London Film Festival.

Benjamin on the set of ‘One Night’

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I am sincerely honoured to have been awarded the Dewar Arts Award. Without the Award I would never have been able to follow my passion for Cinematography.

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2005 Awardee: Anthony Schrag

I received an acceptance letter from the Dewar Arts Awards... and am not sure if I've stopped jumping for joy yet!!

YEAR OF AWARD: 2005
AGE AT AWARD: 29
ARTFORMS: , ,
WEBSITE:https://www.anthonyschrag.com
 
TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/anthonyschrag

Biography

Anthony’s down-to-earth approach enables him to engage and enthuse many people who would not normally describe themselves as fans of either ‘performance’ or ‘contemporary’ art. His work and the way he works is all about valuing the human spirit and enhancing the quality of life.

Anthony was born in Zimbabwe and moved around the world with his family during his early years, eventually settling in Canada. He came to Scotland to take up a place on the Master of Fine Art course at the Glasgow School of Art.

Anthony works with big emotional concepts in ways that are able to engage and interest the ordinary guy in the street, and indeed he has engaged people from all walks of life in his work.  He is the antithesis of the ‘ivory tower’ artist in desiring to reach as wide an audience as possible with his work.

Writing about live art practitioners, Anthony says that one of the difficulties an artist faces is “time to develop, time to experiment, and a space in which to try, to succeed and, importantly, to fail – for it is through our mistakes that we grow.”

The award helped Anthony to safely explore the edges of his current practice and to expand them.

How the Award Helped

Anthony received a Dewar Arts Award to enable him to take part in a number of prestigious international exhibitions. Because his work is performative and live, Anthony has to be present in order to exhibit. His Award enabled him to accept these invitations.

Since the Award

Subsequently Anthony was invited to do two separate residencies in Iceland, thanks in part to the recognition of the Dewar Award.

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I received an acceptance letter from the Dewar Arts Awards... and am not sure if I've stopped jumping for joy yet!!

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2005 Awardee: Anthony Campbell

The difference that this award will make in helping me reach my dream is immeasurable

YEAR OF AWARD: 2005
AGE AT AWARD: 24
ARTFORMS: , ,
 
 
 

Biography

Anthony gained a first class degree in design textiles at the Glasgow School of Art and went on to pursue an MA in Fashion at Central St Martin’s, London, one of the UK’s major fashion colleges.

He writes: “my work is concerned with researching and developing textile design in the realm of menswear. I intend to do this by designing and developing textiles using digital print and knit technologies, challenging the use of these techniques and applying them to menswear design.”

Anthony’s aim is to launch himself as a contemporary menswear designer, through his final degree show at London Fashion Week.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award helped towards his MA in fashion at Central St Martin’s, London.

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The difference that this award will make in helping me reach my dream is immeasurable

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2005 Awardee: Angus Nicolson

The Daughter of Dewar Award has been a huge benefit to me, both for my career, and for my personal development....if it wasn't for the Award I would not have had the opportunities I have had to date.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2005
AGE AT AWARD: 19
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Piping has been in Angus Nicolson’s family for generations. Although no-one in the long line of Nicolson pipers had the opportunity to develop their musical talents to a professional level, until now.

From the beautiful Isle of Skye, Angus was a pupil of the well-respected teacher of piping, Iain MacFadyen.
Angus has won many prizes at some of the most prestigious piping competitions in Scotland, including the Northern Meeting and the MacGregor Memorial Competition.

He has shown his versatility by being equally successful in the light music categories as well as the Piobaireachd categories, regarded as the classical music of the pipes.

Currently at Benbecula College, Angus has his sights set on studying Scottish Music at the RSAMD, Glasgow before going on to a solo career as a piper.

How the Award Helped

Angus received a Daughter of Dewar Award to buy a set of handmade Fred Morrison reelpipes.

Since the Award

Before making the purchase, Angus was able to try Fred’s own set of reelpipes. Since he got his own set, his career has gone from strength to strength. His many performances include a gig at Celtic Connections with fellow Award winner, Sarah Naylor.

Angus writes that the instrument ‘is a joy to play, sounds excellent and is as reliable as anyone could want.’ Owning such a top-quality instrument inspires him to practise even more.

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The Daughter of Dewar Award has been a huge benefit to me, both for my career, and for my personal development....if it wasn't for the Award I would not have had the opportunities I have had to date.

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2005 Awardee: Andrew Dunlop

A hundred thousand thanks for helping to make my dream of becoming a concert pianist a reality

YEAR OF AWARD: 2005
AGE AT AWARD: 19
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Hailing from Connel, a small village near Oban, Andrew is a prodigious musical talent. He started learning piano at the age of 8 with Geoffrey Heald-Smith. He studied harp and composition with Savourna Stevenson, whom she describes as one of her most talented students.

Andrew is an energetic and charismatic young performer with an impressive CV including BBC radio and TV performances, Celtic Connections Festival and the winner of many music prizes.  He has an interest in a broad range of musical genres, which embraces both his commitment to his Scottish musical roots and a passion for the challenge of the piano concert repertoire.

He won the Mòd Piano Competition five years in a row and was then politely asked not to enter again in order to give others a chance! He has represented Scotland at the Pan Celtic Festival in Ireland, winning First Prizes in the Group and New Song Competition and Second Prize in the International Harp Competition. Also a talented clàrsach player, Andrew performed at the prestigious World Harp Congress in 2002.

More recent competition successes includes reaching the final of the RNCM Concerto Competition, the Manager’s Discretionary Award for outstanding performance at the Jacques Samuels Intercollegiate Piano Competition, and an award by the John Ireland Society of his complete solo piano works.  In 2006 Andrew won the RNCM Ravel Competition, giving him the chance to perform Ravel’s G Major Piano Concerto as soloist with the RNCM Symphony Orchestra.

In 2005, he received a full scholarship to attend the Gold Country Piano Institute’s ‘Mastercourse in Interpretation’ in California. Subsequently, he was selected to perform in several concerts around California.  2006 performances include Mozart’s Concerto in A Major K488 with the Nottingham Youth Orchestra and Bartok’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the RNCM Concert Orchestra.

Andrew is studying piano at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where he is considered to be an intelligent and talented pianist with enormous potential.  He plans to continue at RNCM on the Master’s programme for which he has been awarded a Major Entrance Scholarship.

How the Award Helped

Andrew received a Daughter of Dewar Award towards the purchase of a grand piano.

Since the Award

Since buying a grand piano, Andrew graduated from RNCM with first-class honours, the Alfred Class Pianoforte Scholarship for the highest Final Recital mark and the Hilda Anderson Den Award for highest academic marks. He was also the first student to perform two concertos with the college orchestra in the same year. Not to mention being the first student to perform in a kilt.  Andrew attributes a lot of this success to being able to practise on a professional-quality piano.

Andrew is now pursuing an MMus at RNCM. He has also won a Fulbright Scholarship to continue his studies at Eastman College, Rochester, towards a DMA.

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A hundred thousand thanks for helping to make my dream of becoming a concert pianist a reality

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2005 Awardee: Amira Bedrush-McDonald

I have surprised myself with the amount of progress I've made as a violinist and the whole experience is enabling me to grow in many ways I never expected. This opportunity would [have been] impossible without the kind support from the Dewar Arts Awards.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2005
AGE AT AWARD: 22
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

According to her violin tutor at the RSAMD, Amira has ‘star quality’ and is quite simply the best violinist he has ever taught. Not only does she have an outstanding talent as a violinist, but she also has the ability to hold an audience. While still at the RSAMD in Glasgow Amira regularly brought the house down at student gigs with her techno-rock ceilidh group, which she formed with friends from school.

After she completed a Masters in music at the RSAMD, Amira could have begun a successful professional career, but she was encouraged to set her professional sights at the highest possible level.

She is currently in a postgraduate programme in Texas studying with leading violin tutor, Brian Lewis.
Shortly after arriving in Austin, Amira auditioned for the University Symphony Orchestra and was thrilled to be offered the post of Concertmaster.  In her first concert she played the solo violin part in Brahm’s Symphony No. 1, which was extremely well received.  After a successful first year, Amira writes, “My dreams seem more accessible now.”

How the Award Helped

Amira received a Dewar Arts Award to support her studies at the Texas Music School.

Since the Award

May 2007: After two years studying violin performance at the University of Texas with Brian Lewis, Amira graduated in May 2007 with a Master in Music and the “Outstanding Master of Music Recital Prize”. She writes, “I feel incredibly fortunate that I was afforded the space, time and opportunity to learn such a great deal and also have the support and belief that I was capable of doing it.”

Amira is now working in the UK as a full-time musician. She and fellow Dewar Award-winner, Genna Spinks, have formed a string duo.

March 2017: in 2015 I became a member of the 1st violins in the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. For me, this is a dream job which has involved tours round Europe, India and the Far East, and has included making highly acclaimed recordings and also appearances at the BBC Proms. I feel incredibly lucky to have had the support from the Dewar Arts Awards 2005-2007 and know that my chosen career path might not have been possible without it.

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I have surprised myself with the amount of progress I've made as a violinist and the whole experience is enabling me to grow in many ways I never expected. This opportunity would [have been] impossible without the kind support from the Dewar Arts Awards.

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2005 Awardee: Aidan O’Rourke

What Aidan combines is the best of what I regard as 'Scottishness', outstanding ability and outstanding commitment, all delivered with great humour

YEAR OF AWARD: 2005
AGE AT AWARD: 29
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Aidan O’Rourke was brought up in the West Coast town of Oban and moved with his family to the beautiful Seil Island, near Oban, as a teenager. He lived there until going to university in Glasgow at 18.

In 2005 he took up a two-year musician-in-residence at the Tolbooth in Stirling, which the Artistic Director says “is as much about nurturing Aidan’s talents as a composer and musician as it is about the Tolbooth utilizing the talents of the musician”.

In 2004 Aidan was commissioned by Fife Community Services to compose and perform a piece of music to celebrate the visit of his holiness the Dalai Lama to Fife. As part of the project he worked with troubled young people with a broad range of musical talents.

According to all who worked with him, Aidan’s work on the project was ‘inspirational’, both in relation to the composition and to the performance he drew out of the youngsters.

How the Award Helped

Aidan received a Daughter of Dewar Award to buy a new fiddle.

Since the Award

Aidan is a busy recording and performing fiddler at the top of his game, including playing and recording with Blazin’ Fiddles and his new trio Lau. His fiddle was coming to the end of its life, and Aidan badly needed a new one to match his abilities and to enable him to challenge himself musically.

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What Aidan combines is the best of what I regard as 'Scottishness', outstanding ability and outstanding commitment, all delivered with great humour

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2005 Awardee: Aaron McGregor

I am enjoying the violin very much and am very grateful for the help I have been given

YEAR OF AWARD: 2005
AGE AT AWARD: 18
ARTFORMS: ,
 
 
 

Biography

Aaron writes that “since both my parents are musicians, music has always been a central part of my life.”

Multi-talented Aaron has been playing the violin since the age of 7 and now also plays guitar and piano, sings and writes music.

Brought up in Canada and now based in Orkney, Aaron has immersed himself in the local traditional music scene. He plays with many of the Scottish orchestras and has been involved in several productions at the St Magnus Festival.

Aaron is now studying music at Edinburgh University.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award enabled Aaron to buy a performance-standard violin.  A second Award funded the purchase of a new bow.

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I am enjoying the violin very much and am very grateful for the help I have been given

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2005 Awardee: Jennifer McHardy

Thank you very much for giving me the chance to begin to fulfil my dreams and ambitions within this creative and competitive industry.

YEAR OF AWARD: 2005
AGE AT AWARD: 29
ARTFORMS: ,
WEBSITE:https://www.etsy.com/nervousstitch
 
 

Biography

Jennifer gained a first-class honours degree in textile and surface design from Gray’s School of Art, The Robert Gordon University before winning a place on the highly competitive MA in Constructed Textiles at the Royal College of Art, London.

From the start of her studies, Jennifer’s talent and innovation stood out, culminating in a ‘stunning’ final degree show. Her work reveals exceptional talent shot through with wit and intellectual rigour.

Whether Jennifer’s design takes her into theatrical design or a more commercial career as a textile designer, it is certain that she will be successful.

How the Award Helped

Jennifer received a Dewar Arts Award towards her MA studies at the Royal College of Art, London.

Since the Award

Jennifer’s degree collection, see below, was based upon traditional Scottish knitted textiles given a contemporary twist with the use of unusual materials and processes. Jennifer won a Rowan Yarns design competition with her design appearing in the Rowan Studio catalogue.
Jennifer’s work features in our 10th Anniversary Exhibition.
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Thank you very much for giving me the chance to begin to fulfil my dreams and ambitions within this creative and competitive industry.

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